In brief: Choosing between hardwood, vinyl and laminate flooring depends on how you use the room, your budget and your preferred look. Solid wood flooring offers natural warmth and lasting value, but requires more care. Vinyl flooring is highly moisture-resistant, making it ideal for wet areas. Laminate is the affordable all-rounder with a wide range of designs, but is more sensitive to moisture.
Hardwood, vinyl and laminate flooring: the materials explained
Before installing your new flooring, it is worth taking a closer look at the essentials. The three materials differ fundamentally in their construction, feel and origin.
Parquet flooring is made from real wood. Solid parquet consists of a continuous layer of wood, while engineered parquet has a thin layer of premium wood on a core board. It breathes, has a natural scent and visibly ages over time. Vinyl, often called luxury vinyl flooring or PVC flooring, is a plastic-based product. It is flexible, warm underfoot and available in almost any design. Laminate imitates wood or stone with a printed paper layer covered by a hard melamine coating. It is hard-wearing, click-fit and affordable.
Appearance and feel make the difference
Hardwood flooring wins when it comes to a natural look and feel. Every plank is unique, with its own grain and colour variation. Modern vinyl can look remarkably similar to natural materials, even featuring embossed wood textures that you can feel. Laminate surfaces often look flatter, and the repeated print can be noticeable in cheaper versions. Try samples to compare the feel.
Choosing flooring is a long-term investment in the room's atmosphere and your sense of comfort. Real wood stores warmth, helps regulate moisture and creates a distinctive atmosphere that no imitation can completely replace.
How hard-wearing are these floors in everyday use?
The level of wear determines where each type of flooring is suitable. Check the use class (NC) for laminate and the abrasion class (AC) or wear-layer thickness (for vinyl in mm).
Laminate for residential use starts at class 23 (moderate use); for hallways or kitchens, choose at least class 33. Its hard surface is less prone to scratching than parquet, but it is sensitive to impact. A dropped knife can dent it. Vinyl is softer and therefore helps reduce impact noise, while still being highly resistant to scratches and knocks. Parquet shows signs of use. Many people see this patina as a sign of quality, while others consider it a drawback.
Important note
Standing water is the greatest enemy of all wood and wood-based flooring. Wipe up spills immediately. On laminate and unsealed parquet, even a puddle left for some time can cause the joints to swell. In wet areas such as guest toilets or kitchen corners in garden buildings, vinyl is the safer choice.
Care and maintenance
The care requirements are clear: vinyl comes out on top. A damp mop with a mild cleaner is all it takes. For deep cleaning resilient floors, use the . Parquet requires special pH-neutral cleaners that do not damage the seal. Harsh scouring agents will destroy the finish. Laminate also only tolerates a barely damp mop.
Damage highlights another difference: a deep scratch in solid parquet can be sanded out. With laminate or vinyl, you can replace a single plank, which is easy with click systems. Polish surface scratches on laminate or stone using a product such as .
Why do room climate and subfloor matter?
Your existing subfloor determines your options. Parquet and laminate require a completely dry, level and stable subfloor. Uneven areas can transfer through the flooring or cause creaking joints. Vinyl is more forgiving because it is flexible and adapts more easily.
The room climate is crucial for wood. Parquet expands and contracts. In air that is too dry (heating air), it shrinks; when the air is too humid, it swells. A relative humidity of 50-60% is ideal. Parquet can suffer in poorly insulated garden buildings or conservatories with extreme fluctuations. Vinyl and high-quality laminate are less sensitive in these conditions.
Proper subfloor preparation is the be-all and end-all for every floor. Whether it is levelling compound or underlay – saving money here will come back to haunt you years later through noise and unevenness. Investing in a perfect subfloor always pays off.
Pro tip
Always check the residual moisture in the screed with a moisture meter before installation. For cement screed, the residual moisture must be below 2% CM; for anhydrite screed, below 0.5% CM. With parquet, always install a vapour barrier if moisture could rise from below.
Cost comparison: purchase and installation
The price range is wide. Laminate is the most affordable option. Vinyl falls into the mid- to high-priced segment, depending on the wear-layer thickness and design. Solid wood parquet is a premium investment, while engineered parquet makes real wood more affordable.
Always calculate the total cost: materials, underlay, skirting boards, profiles and adhesive (often required for vinyl and parquet). Installing click laminate or click vinyl is a popular DIY project. Gluing parquet or wet-room vinyl requires more skill. You can find the right tools for precise cuts in our Power Tools category, including a practical for reciprocating saws.
Long-term value
With proper care, parquet can last for several generations and be sanded several times. It has also been shown to increase property value. Laminate and vinyl have a limited lifespan of 10-25 years, depending on quality and wear. They are better viewed as consumable materials.
Additional advice
Always buy some spare flooring (at least 5% of the area). If repairs are needed in a few years, the same colour batch may no longer be available. Store spare planks flat in their original packaging in the same room so the material can acclimatise.
Which flooring belongs where? The room-by-room recommendation
Make your final choice based on the specific rooms.
Living room & bedroom: Comfort and appearance are key here. Parquet flooring is the classic choice. If you prefer something easier to maintain and more affordable, choose high-quality laminate or soft, warm wood-effect vinyl flooring.
Kitchen & hallway: High wear and the risk of moisture are the main concerns. Vinyl is the ideal compromise between durability and design. Special water-resistant laminate (with a waterproof core board) is an alternative. For the hallway, it is worth looking in the clearance section, where you can often find durable leftover stock.
Bathroom & guest toilet: Moisture-resistant vinyl flooring is the clear choice here. Make sure it has the appropriate certification.
Home office & hobby room: Office chairs with castors? Choose vinyl or laminate with an extra-hard surface (class 33/34). Parquet flooring would quickly develop indentations.
Garden shed & conservatory: The demands here are extreme. Temperature fluctuations and possible moisture from outside put the material under pressure. Vinyl or specially treated engineered parquet are suitable options. Make sure the room is well ventilated. For the surrounding patio, take a look at garden equipment.
Before installation: The right preparation
Success depends on thorough preparation. Empty the room completely. Remove the old skirting boards. Check that the subfloor is level using a spirit level. Grind down raised areas of concrete and fill larger holes with levelling compound.
Allow the new flooring to acclimatise in its unopened stack in the room for at least 48 hours. A room temperature of at least 18°C and the humidity expected during use are important. Lay suitable underlay for sound insulation. For parquet flooring on screed, a primer such as is often essential for binding dust and improving adhesion.
Plan your installation pattern. In most cases, start at the longest straight wall. Offset the joints by at least 30 cm for a stable installation and an attractive appearance. Measure twice, cut once. A versatile will gently clean all the flooring types mentioned above.
The right tools for trade supplies
You will need: a tape measure, pencil, combination square, a sturdy cutting mat, a sharp utility knife (for vinyl and laminate underlay), a jigsaw or circular saw with a fine-toothed blade for wood and laminate, a Japanese pull saw for precise cuts around door frames, a rubber mallet, a pull bar and wedges for the joints. For difficult cuts around radiators and similar obstacles, a reciprocating saw is unbeatable.
With this knowledge, you are well prepared to make your choice. Whether you opt for the natural elegance of parquet flooring, the durable versatility of vinyl or budget-friendly laminate, a well-planned and properly prepared interior renovation guarantees lasting enjoyment of your new floor. Choose the right care products from the outset to maximise its lifespan. For all your other home and garden projects, you will find inspiration and materials in our extensive shop.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I install laminate flooring in the kitchen or garden shed?
- Standard laminate is only suitable for kitchens to a limited extent. Moisture can penetrate the joints and cause the core board to swell. In this case, choose special water-resistant laminate or, preferably, vinyl flooring. In an unheated garden shed, fluctuating temperatures and humidity pose a challenge; vinyl or durable engineered parquet are the safer options.
- Which type of flooring is easiest to maintain?
- Vinyl flooring (especially PVC) is the clear winner when it comes to ease of maintenance. It is usually protected by a durable wear layer, resistant to moisture and easy to mop. Special cleaners such as PRODUCT_61888 or PRODUCT_61887 are suitable for regular deep cleaning. Parquet flooring, on the other hand, requires special care products to protect the surface.
- Is vinyl the same as laminate?
- No. The key difference lies in their construction. Laminate consists of a wood-based core board with a printed decorative layer. Vinyl (often called PVC flooring or luxury vinyl flooring) is made entirely from layers of plastic, making it softer, warmer underfoot and considerably more resistant to moisture. Vinyl also often feels more textured and less hard than laminate.
- Can I refinish an old floor myself?
- Yes, this is possible with parquet and laminate. For parquet flooring with deep scratches, professional sanding and resealing can often help. For laminate, tiles and stone, a polish such as PRODUCT_60209 can quickly improve the appearance by concealing minor surface imperfections and refreshing the shine. For extensive renovations, however, you will need suitable tools from our power tools category.
- Which accessories do I definitely need for installation?
- In addition to the flooring itself, you will need underlay for sound insulation, matching skirting boards and transition profiles. A sharp utility knife, jigsaw or reciprocating saw with a special blade (such as PRODUCT_90142) is essential for precise cuts. Do not forget to start caring for the flooring immediately, for example with a suitable deep cleaner such as PRODUCT_58658.
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